Click here to subscribe today or Login.
First Posted: 8/12/2012
It’s hard to believe, but we are almost halfway through August.
And with all the back-to-school commercials appearing on TV, I can almost feel the cycling season slipping away.
There was a time when I would ride well into late November and early December, but I’m not quite as dedicated (or as my wife would say, crazy) as I used to be.
Don’t fret, however. Even if you’re like me and your mileage is lower than you want and your weight is higher than you would like, there is still plenty of time for riding and some great charity group rides left to do.
First up is today’s Endure for a Cure ride to benefit the American Cancer Society.
The ride features 10-, 36- and 62-mile courses. All the routes feature rest stops, medical support and a SAG wagon.
Registration is at 7 a.m. today at Wilkes University. The fee is $40.
Then next month there is the Upstate Velo’s Club “Return of the Great 100.”
The ride, scheduled for Sept. 9, will raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. It will feature 31-, 62- and 100-mile options, all leaving from Luzerne County Community College.
But be forewarned – even the 31-mile route is a rugged test.
I had a chance to ride the route about a month ago. The 3,000 feet of climbing along the route took its toll.
And the dog chasing me just outside of Shickshinny wasn’t much fun. (But don’t worry, the farm where the dog chased me did have its cow tied up. So you don’t have to worry about that.)
But if you can survive the climbs, it certainly is a wonderful ride.
The 62- and 100-mile options also offer lots of climbing.
The minimum suggested donation for any of the routes is $20. Find out more at www.upstatevelo.com.
Finally there’s the Bicycling Magazine Fall Classic in the Lehigh Valley on Oct. 7.
This ride allows you to ride with the editors and writers from the magazine, and offers routes of 10, 25, 50 and 90 miles.
And if you are the competitive type, you will be happy to hear that the 90-mile ride will be timed with prizes for top climbers along the course.
Find out more about the Fall Classic at www.bicycling.com/fallclassic.
Of course, these are just three of the many group rides that go on throughout our region. Keep an eye on the bulletin board at your favorite bike shop to find more.
Speaking of the Lehigh Valley, David Novak of Tunkhannock has turned in some impressive performances down in Trexlertown.
Novak, 19, posted a win just last week in the Fuji Super Tuesday Pro-Am Series Pro/Cat 1/2 points race. He accomplished the feat while riding for Pyramid Elite Racing.
He also had a fourth- and fifth-place finish in the weeks before his victory.
Joe Soprano writes about cycling for The Times Leader. Reach him at [email protected] or 829-7164.